Rhaegar's eyes were fixated on the person, for whom he had sent two of his Kingsguards and the younger brother of the person's mother, struggling for a second to recognize his and Lyanna's son for a moment, before he did. Ser Arthur did not lie when he spoke of him, how he looked more Stark than Targaryen and reminded him a bit of late Brandon Stark, and Rhaegar had to agree that the resemblance was definitely there, but only distant, for Maegor was his own man entirely. His features were stronger than Rhaegar's, along with his build and stature being of greater proportions, possibly even surpassing those of Robert Baratheon, a thought that nearly made Rhaegar shudder.

But Maegor was not Baratheon, thank the Gods, but he was his and Lyanna's son, true, and though 14 long years have passed, Rhaegar could see his son had grown into a man that would have made his mother proud. Strong and bold in stature, determined and powerful in gaze, balanced and focused in movement, Rhaegar did not envision even in wildest dreams that his long lost son would be so… breathtaking and immense. Before him, even Aegon looked insignificant, something that Rhaegar was ashamed of admitting even in his head, yet with his mere presence, Maegor captivated all of the attention on himself, from awed maidens and men, to scowling Martells. The scorn and hatred that Rhaegar saw in the eyes of others, including his own family, was not what he wished his son to experience, not again, and he shall make sure that they know that Maegor was no target for anyone, nor were his children and wife.

When Arthur returned and told him that not only Maegor was alive and well, but that he was married and already had 4 children, Rhaegar and other almost didn't believe him, but now, Rhaegar believed, for he looked at them himself. Two boys and two girls, two pair of twins, all beautiful and strong-looking, having inherited the features of their father and mother, who stood beside them and her husband, holding her children protectively close to herself. Though a part of Rhaegar had wished that Maegor's children, or at least sons, had Targaryen features, he was happy to see them, the future of his House, once Maegor resumed his place in their family.

And though Arthur told Rhaegar of Maegor's change of name and distaste for the name of Targaryen, Rhaegar was of the opinion that he would be able to convince Maegor to once again take up his true name. Unfortunately though, even though Rhaegar was content to see his son married, this was not the marriage that was to the benefits of Rhaegar and the Realm, and this would have to be dealt with, and he hoped that Maegor would understand him. But that was for the future, for now, Rhaegar rose up from the Iron Throne and walked down to his son with a warm smile, opening his arms in a greeting embrace.

"Maegor, my dear son. Welcome back." Rhaegar told him with all the warmth and joy, almost theatrically putting his hands on Galahad's shoulders, hinting to embrace him, yet Sundrake remained unmoved and neutral in composure. "When I've learned that you live, I dared not hope to see you again, my son, and yet… Here you are, my dear son." Rhaegar said with tears almost ready to fall from his eyes, but Galahad remained unmoved.

"Here I am, Your Grace, thanks to your Kingsguards and my uncle, who so incessantly pestered me about coming here." Galahad's reply was not what Rhaegar had hoped to hear. "Had you wished to confirm the fact of my continued existence, a messenger with a letter would have been more than sufficient for that task, Your Grace. But when a king sends not one, but two of his Kingsguards and one of my uncles in tow after me… I sensed that it warranted my personal presence here, at least to find out, why the sudden interest in my persona." Rhaegar's smile dropped quite a bit from such words

"I see that young Prince has developed quite a sense of humor, Your Grace. " Hand of the King, Jon Connington commented with a laugh, almost theatrically, as he walked to them. "Your Grace, aren't you happy to be back where you belong? Aren't you going to embrace your beloved father?" Connington's thinly veiled words of command did not go unnoticed by Galahad, but he cared naught for them.

"If my beloved father was here, I would embrace him and kiss his cheeks, and we would smile and laugh like we always do, but since he is not here, and this man is merely a King of Westeros, I see no reason to afford him same level of affections." Galahad stated with steel, immediately shocking the court and most of the Targaryens. "And as for this city and keep… I recall never being happy in here, and today I found neither happiness nor even content, only stench, poverty, and thousands of zealous fanatics, who were a hair away from attacking me, my family and my retinue, despite knowing who I was." Galahad's words were more than enough to shock everyone even more, with Rhaegar looking at him with concerned eyes.

"Who had dared to do such a thing to you, my son?" Rhaegar asked of him, before he turned to the two escorting Kingsguards with furious eye. "Ser Jaime, Ser Barristan, on your shoulders laid the protection of my son and his family, yet you dare to put them in danger? What is the meaning of this, who dared to…" Rhaegar was about to tear the two a new ones, until Galahad interrupted him.

"Your Grace, perhaps instead of unloading your anger upon the two men who had nothing to do with that debacle, you will hear me out in full?" Galahad drew his attention. "The men are called Sparrows, I believe, and their leader, the High Sparrow, demanded that I confess my sins and repent, as well as denounce my gods, my family and give myself to the judgment of the of the Seven. An ultimatum I refused, naturally, and so he and his slaves prepared to attack us." The disrespectful tone that Galahad used to describe them was not lost on anyone, with Aegon deciding to point it out.

"Quite bold of you, to call men of the Faith slaves, or do you see yourself above those who are faithful their Gods?" Aegon arrogantly asked, with Galahad sparing him only a glance. "Perhaps you really now a godless heretic."

"I call them slaves because they are slaves to the word of their master, the High Sparrow, who views himself as master above men because he believes himself to do the Gods' work." Galahad answered without hesitation and doubt. "And in their eyes I may be a heretic, but I am not one to spill blood needlessly, hence I proposed to them an alternative solution, one that would not result in senseless slaughter."

"And what solution did you reach, my son?" Rhaegar asked of him.

"One that will put a firm end to their demands: a Trial of Seven, to be held in a week's time from today, where High Sparrow will gather the best of Seven's greatest knights to see, if the Seven have forgiven me, or they wish to see my soul burn in seven hells." Galahad informed the court, producing shock again, and making the courtiers speak amongst themselves, while Rhaegar looked speechless at what his son had done.

"A Trial of Seven… No, I will not allow it. The Septon knows of my decision towards you, Maegor, and he openly defies it, so this is illegal and I shall not allow it to take place." Rhaegar assured him, before he turned to his Hand. "Jon, send a message to that man and tell him, that I…"

"You will do not a thing that would impede or cancel that Trial out, and if you do, you will only make things worse for yourself and for the realm." Galahad stopped Rhaegar, making him turn his eyes to him.

"My son, this farce needs not happen. I have made my decision, and he will abide by it." Rhaegar said reassuringly, trying to dissuade Galahad from this course, but it was already too late.

"If he intended to abide by your word, he would not have set up an ambush today with clear intent to kill me, which tells me that it is not just him who is after me and my family. Someone who has a great deal of power, and close to the throne, clearly supports him and his intentions, since he knew where and when to place his trap." Galahad's eyes turned for a second towards Tyrells and Aegon, all but confirming for him what he already believed. "But not to worry, I do not intend to give them the pleasure of winning. Now, let us get on. My wife, Lady Morgana Sundrake, nee Pendragon." Galahad decided to get the things moving along, and so introduced his wife, with Morgana unfazed by her husband's tact and actually appreciating it.

"Your Grace." Morgana curtly curtsied before Rhaegar and Elia, but not offered her hand to him.

"Milady." Rhaegar calmed himself, before he turned the attention to the children. "And these are your children?"

"Yes, our pride and joy. Agravain, Faye, Gawain and Arturia." Galahad finally smiled, as he spoke of them, and they bowed and curtsied when named, with Rhaegar smiling to them as well.

"Hm, they don't look Targaryen to me. Smell more akin to Starks and Lannisters." Aegon noted flippantly, to which some of the court chuckled, while Rhaegar turned to his son with anger. "Mutts of a lioness and a wolf, yet not dragons, like their father." At those words, Galahad was prepared to speak up, but Morgana stopped him, for she herself would have words soon.

"Aegon, that is no way to speak of your nephews and nieces." Elia chided him with enraged look, reminded of how King Aerys treated her own children. "This is unbecoming of the Crown Prince, to speak like you did of your own blood."

"I will have words with you later, son." Rhaegar's harsh tone promised problems for him.

"They may lack your colors, Prince, but I assure you: my sons and daughters are children of the Dragon, more so than yours." Morgana replied with steel in her voice, and regality that equaled her husband's. "You merely inherited your banner through blood of your ancestors, but my husband earned his, through blood, effort and sweat, things that I sincerely doubt you ever spilled, to get where you are." Aegon looked with fury at Morgana, who defiantly stared back.

"Enough of this. Rhaegar, this has been a long and unpleasant journey, so do show us our rooms, before we have a second Dance here." Rhaella decided to finally speak up, with Rhaegar agreeing.

"Yes, you must all be very tired. Your chambers have all been prepared in Maegor's Holdfast, and your luggage shall be taken there. We shall convene later for the dinner, but we shall have a true feast in your honor in next few days, my son." Rhaegar promised to him.

"You may dispense with the feasts. A simple warm meal would do just as fine." Galahad told him, preparing to leave, before speaking one last thing. "And for the record: I am Galahad Sundrake, Your Grace, not Maegor Targaryen. Your Lord Commander clearly needs to be checked for diseases of mind or ear, for I've explicitly told him to inform you of the fact, yet he clearly failed." Galahad stated, before departing with his family and retinue for his chambers, leaving Rhaegar and the court to ponder over much of what he had said.

An hour and a half later. Small Council's chambers.

Once Rhaegar had been able to do so, he adjourned the court and immediately summoned his Small Council for a discussion, with his wife Elia and mother Rhaella also opting to attend, along with Aegon. The reunion with Maegor had went completely not how Rhaegar would have wished it had, but to say that he didn't make an impression would be the boldest and greatest lie in the world. Maegor made a clear and powerful impression, one that Rhaegar had to say left even him speechless for a moment, but the way he carried himself and spoke… This was no longer that same frightened little boy he knew him as, but a powerful and mighty man, who did not have even an ounce of fear in him, someone who carried himself in a way, that made it clear, that he was his own master. Like a true Dragon…

And though Rhaegar may not say it out loud, part of him swollen with pride for his son, and yet his defiance and clear lack of affection towards him were something he did not wish to see in Maegor. And some others too saw these things as signs of clear defiance of his authority, and clear hints of rebellious intention that brewed in Maegor's mind. At least that was what some of his Masters told him.

"His open disparaging of the Faith and the Crown's authority are evidence enough of his insidious intent. He did not greet His Grace like a son would, nor would he even kneel before, and he addressed Him and the Crown Prince like they were his equals, if not lower." Randyll Tarly, Master of War, stated with brusqueness. "It seems the Faith is correct on his account: bastards harbor nothing but sinister thoughts and scheming, and now he has his own horde of bastards from that foreign whore." Before Rhaegar could say a single thing, Rhaella spoke up with steel cold tone.

"Lord Tarly, if you call my grandson or his children bastards, or Lady Morgana whore, I shall have you answer for your words before Ser Barristan and his sword." Rhaella's gaze met with Tarly's hard eyes, clearly showing his indignation. "If you have any form of offence towards Galahad, you are more than welcome to resolve them at the Trial of Seven. I am certain that High Sparrow would be delighted to have such a pious and unyielding martinet stand as one of his champions against Galahad. Though I would recommend you say your goodbyes before Trial, for you will not walk out of it alive." At every word Tarly grew more and more angered, not used to someone so openly disrespecting him.

"You sound quite certain that your grandson would win, Your Grace." Oberyn Martell said with in his usual tone, as he lazily relaxed in his seat. "Do you actually believe he would even find men who would stand with alongside him, much less win this whole affair?"

"The only thing that I doubt is that he would need help at all with this affair at all." Rhaella said confidently, before turning to Oberyn Martell. "If you think otherwise, perhaps you could join Lord Tarly and attempt to prove me wrong. Such affairs do sound quite something you would indulge in, Red Viper." Rhaella said challengingly, with Oberyn barely staying his tongue from responding.

"That is enough, Mother. I will not have you enticing men of my council to engage in this fool's affair." Rhaegar finally spoke up, with Rhaella simply rolling her eyes at that, before he turned his gaze to Tarly. "Nor will I have my men insult and question the legitimacy of son and his family, Lord Tarly. Your insight in warfare may be valuable, but another such comment and I shall find someone to replace you with more discretion."

"My apologies, Your Grace." Randyll Tarly simply bowed his head at that.

"Now, I need to know how that fanatic managed to learn about Maegor's arrival, and set up that ambush." Rhaegar said, with Rhaella barely restraining a snort of laughter.

"I may be a bit in the years, but I am quite certain Galahad had practically spelled it out for you, son." Rhaella said, as she turned to Mace Tyrell and Aegon. "Someone who is very powerful, and very close to the Faith, had set this all up. And what a coincidence, Lord Tyrell, that you and your family have grown quite close to the Faith in these past few years." Mace nearly turned red at such a blatant implication.

"Y-your Grace, I-I swear upon my honor, that I have had nothing to do with this dreadful affair, a-and I detest and reject s-such accusations!" Mace Tyrell said with indignation.

"And I personally do not think you had anything to do with this, Lord Tyrell." Rhaella added, seemingly calming him down, before continuing. "But your mother, on the other hand, would most definitely set up such a trap if it meant getting rid of anything standing before her and the throne." At that one, Mace sprung to his feet in rage.

"Your Grace, I will not have you disparaging upon my mother!" Mace Tyrell said with anger, puffing up like a fish.

"Lord Tyrell, while such words are rather bold, I am certain that we can forgive Her Grace for such bold accusations. She has always been quite predisposed towards her grandson, and after what had happened, it is only natural she would be distrustful of any who posed even a sliver of threat." Lord Varys defused the situation, with Mace sitting back down, with the Spider continuing. "At this moment, Your Grace, I have my little birds looking into this with all their abilities. You have my word, that soon enough, you shall have the answer to this entire situation." Varys assured Rhaegar.

"Good, I want to know who had dared threaten my son, and for what reason they decided to make such a move." Rhaegar said with determination.

"With the attitude that bastard has towards us, he deserved to be punished, not to mention that he is a kinslayer." Aegon commented with anger. "Better if we let the Faith deal with him and be finally done with him and his bastards." At those words, Rhaegar turned to his son, and then slapped him with a backhand.

"You will shut your mouth about them, Aegon, and keep quiet, if you have nothing good to say about them." Rhaegar said with fury, while Aegon looked at him with incredulous eye. "Maegor is your brother and you will show him all due respect and love, or you will learn, what is like to feel my scorn upon yourself."

"Rhaegar, I am certain that the Crown Prince did not mean what he said. Obviously, the events of the day have affected us all, and it has left us in a confounded state." Jon Connington spoke up, trying to defuse the situation. "Crown Prince's words are harsh, true, but there is a grain of truth in them. The way in which Prince Maegor spoke and acted towards you and the Crown Prince are unforgivable, and it should not go unpunished. He has clearly demonstrated an absence of respect towards you and the Crown, and your authority, hence why I believe he needs to learn the consequences of such daring actions."

"And what would you suggest, Lord Hand?" Mace Tyrell asked of him.

"A public apology before the Court, made by him and his wife, before the King and the court." Connington offered, with Rhaella openly laughing at that. "You find something funny, Your Grace."

"Yes, you first of all, and that suggestion of yours second." Rhaella answered. "I can tell you already, that Galahad will never apologize, especially with the way that you are so clearly disrespecting him every time you address him."

"And in what form do we disrespect him, Your Grace?" Ser Arthur asked of her.

"You openly call him by his previous name, Maegor, when he had long since adopted the name of Galahad." Rhaella stated to them. "If you wish for him to show you any respect, you may want to start by actually calling him by his true name."

"He may address himself like this, but his name is not that. He is Maegor, mother, and he is a Targaryen, not Galahad Sundrake." Rhaegar stated to her. "It is obvious that Maegor has merely taken to habit being addressed as those foreigners call him now."

"Clearly so, though he sure does not lack for gall and dare, when looking at that banner of his." Oberyn commented, clearly incensed at that little fact. "A dragon surrounded by the sun… He openly dares to mock House Martell with that design."

"Oberyn, enough." Elia asked of him to stop. "I am certain that Maegor never meant to offend us with that crest."

"That is true." Rhaella confirmed Elia's words. "Truth be told, Galahad did not design his banner, nor did he desire one, from what he told me. That crest and name were bestowed upon him by the Emperor of Tamriel, along with the title of Champion of Akatosh. From what I know, Akatosh is their head deity, a Dragon God of Time and Sun, or something like that. In context of that, it seems fitting that Galahad would have such a banner. So, as you can see, Prince Oberyn, my grandson never intended to insult you or your House. If anything, I doubt he even remembered you or your family when he received it, so you may take offence in that fact if you wish." Rhaella added, hinting at Oberyn's tendency to take offence with even smallest of things and ego of Martells.

"And there is another matter that we need to address: his refusal to follow the Seven, and worship of those foreign gods." Richard Lonmouth, the Master of Laws, reminded to everyone. "The people and the Faith, not to mention the nobility, will not accept the Prince who is a heretic. If he had followed the Old Gods, it would be at least marginally acceptable, but these "Nine Divines" are a step too far. A Prince of the Realm cannot be in the line of succession to the throne, nor can his children and marriage be considered legitimate."

"I have already told him about it, and he has made it crystal clear, that he does not care what the people and the Realm think of him and his beliefs." Ser Arthur Dayne stated to the council. "And as for the situation with his marriage and children, he is of the same mind."

"Then we need to remind the Prince about the importance of following the true Faith." Randyll Tarly added. "He was never properly educated in the virtues of the Seven, which needs to be rectified. If he means to be our Prince, he must be true to our Faith." At that one, Rhaella laughed openly.

"You will have more success with bringing back the dead dragons from the Dragonpit than making Galahad convert to the Faith of the Seven, especially after today's surprise." Rhaella remarked. "And as for his children and Morgana, I would advise avoid insulting them in any form or capacity. Unlike most of you, good Sers, he loves and treasures them dearly, more so than himself and his honor."

"Then if he does not mean to convert to the Seven, then he has no right to the throne, and so…" Tarly concluded, before Rhaegar slammed his hand onto the table.

"The Council is dismissed." Rhaegar coldly stated, realizing that he is not bound to get anything useful out of them in regards to his prodigal son, with the men rising up and leaving him and his family in the chambers, with Oberyn also remaining in there. "Do you require special treatment, Prince Oberyn?" Rhaegar asked of him in an irritated manner.

"I simply wished to offer my insight into this situation, Your Grace." Oberyn stated. "The bastard… The prince clearly has no love for you or for the Realm, and seems to have no love from the people and the Faith. Perhaps it would be best if he and his brood were to return to their far off land and…"

"And perhaps, it is you and your brood that should return to Dorne, for I am currently struggling to see what service you are doing to me and the Realm, aside from stirring problems and whispering empty promises and false truths to my daughter's ear." Rhaegar stated to Oberyn, catching him slightly off-guard. "You are dismissed, Prince." Rhaegar stated to him, with Oberyn leaving with haste, clearly displeased with the outcome.

"You should not have said it. He will take it as an insult, and so will Doran." Elia let out a sigh.

"Let them, for it is about time they learn that they can't act with impunity and expect to be treated like they are royalty." Rhaella said with confidence. "Your mother Myriah was a proud woman too, but shrewd and with better head on her shoulder, than both Doran and Oberyn. She knew what the Dorne and dornishmen are here for others, and how to best use her status. A shame her sons turned out the way they did, though at least Arianne seems to be showing some promise." At that one Aegon snorted.

"The only promise she shows is as a bedwarmer and aside from that, she is of little use to anyone. Even uncle Doran knows it." Aegon said with a snort, hinting at the fact that Doran seemed keen to keep Arianne from becoming his heir. "Did you see how she looked at Maegor when he walked to the Throne? I half expected her to start pleasuring herself with the way she looked at him, akin to a whore."

"That's enough out of you, Aegon." Elia said with steel, having had enough of her son's foul mouth. "Have you nothing better to say, aside from insults and snide remarks today? If not, than you and your wife and children may as well not be at the dinner today."

"You would bar me and Margeary from dining with you, yet you would entertain that half-breed?!" Aegon asked in an incredulous fashion.

"Yes, because he at least can act like a man of his status, unlike you." Rhaegar answered to him with harsh gaze. "Now go, son, either prepare yourself for the dinner, or fume in silence." Aegon did not add anything to that, and simply departed from the chambers.

"Perhaps you should not have given him a choice about the dinner. Should he continue with his japes and insults, Galahad will quickly forget that they are of one blood." Rhaella noted with knowledge. "At least Rhaenys, Visenya and Daenerys said nothing to him, though I imagine they'll say much when they have the time, and not all will be good."

"They'll hold their tongues. I'll make sure of it." Rhaegar said with a sigh. "My son has finally returned, yet does not have an ounce of love or respect for me, and cares naught for my affection to him."

"And did you expect something different, Rhaegar?" Rhaella looked at him with critical eye, drawing his gaze to her. "He remembers your words towards him, the looks of hatred and insults, as well as your "permission" to Viserys to torture him." Rhaella said the last piece with clear hatred in her tone

"I never gave my permission to such an act." Rhaegar denied it.

"You knew what Viserys was doing to him, every single time, but did you ever care to stop it? No, never, not even when all of the Red Keep and the Realm learned about what was happening, you did not say a word, and gave Viserys your silent blessing to continue what he was doing." Rhaella said coldly, rising from her seat. "And had you cared, you would have allowed the Kingsguards to actually protect him, instead of standing around like a statue. But that would go against the point of why you allowed Viserys to torment Maegor: you wanted Maegor to suffer." Rhaegar looked at her with indignation, ready to answer back, but did not.

"Your Grace, there is no denying that what had been done to Maegor in the past was atrocious, and his treatment was unjust by all of us." Elia admitted truthfully. "But I think we can all agree, that it would do us all no good, to let these wounds continue festering, instead finally healing them. Would you prefer your favored grandson to grow bitter and hateful towards the rest of our family?" Rhaella looked at Elia, seeing the point in her words.

"What I want for him is to be happy and well, and for now, it seems that he is both, but you are right." Rhaella said to Elia. "You wish to mend the wounds and build bridges with him, then start treating him and his family with respect. Call him as he wishes to be called, not as you want him to be called, and then he will respond in accord, but do not even think about lying about the past or the present. Galahad will never forget and likely never forgive what had happened to him, and do not even try to pressure him into doing so. You wish to try and achieve at least an illusion of amicable relations with him- this is how you do it."

"But how do I get him to embrace who he actually is, a Targaryen Prince and my son?" Rhaegar asked of Rhaella. "How do I make him want to stay here?" Rhaella looked at Rhaegar for a few seconds, before stepping away from the table, and silently leaving the room, making it clear to Rhaegar, that this is one question he will not get an easy answer for.

An hour later. Maegor's Holdfast

For what seemed an eternity, Arianne observed as her uncle and his daughters were ranting and raving about Prince Maegor and his family, about his arrival and appearance, as well as how he seemed to be an insult to her family, uncle Oberyn and everything. For as much as she loved her family and cousins, this was one thing that Arianne never could quite agree and support them on, their hatred of Maegor and all that was connected to him, from mere fact of his existence to his dead mother. Even her father considered Maegor a living insult to House Martell and a threat to them, a reminder and symbol of how King Rhaegar betrayed them and chose a northern wild girl instead of their Princess. For being a symbol of all that, the result of that treacherous act, Maegor forever earned the ire and hatred of Dorne and its people, or at least that is what Oberyn and his daughters would have everyone believe in.

Truth, as is often the case, is different from what Martells, or at least some of them, would like to believe in, and while it is true that most Dornishmen have no good things to say about Lyanna Stark, her youngest child and only son is a different matter entirely. It was no secret to the realm that the King and his court despised and hated the boy from the very moment he appeared in their lives, and while this was nothing new, for there always were times when children were hated by their parents, especially when they have killed their mothers. But when the rumors began to circulate about what was really happening to young Maegor inside the walls of the Red Keep, and how the King allowed it to happen, the poor Prince gained sympathies of the common folk and nobles. At least in Dorne this was the case, for Arianne heard many times when lords and ladies of Dorne speak with disdain about the treatment of Maegor, and how the King was allowing for him to be tormented by his uncle out of spite.

Of course, most of those same lords and ladies dared not say anything good about Maegor in front of Doran and Oberyn, for it was known how they regarded such words. And at least in the beginning, Arianne too did not think well of the boy, having fallen under the influence of her father and uncle and their words of spite towards Maegor. She was not proud of that, that she could think ill of him simply because of the circumstances of his birth, and now that she was older and fully grown, she chided her past self for her thoughts.

It was with these thoughts she came to visit King's Landing, when she was 8 years old, while Maegor was only 5, and it was with these thoughts that she first met him, and found him to be everything that her uncle Oberyn scornfully described him to be. She still remembered what she first said to him: "You look like an unwashed mutt out of Flea Bottom, not a dragon like your better siblings." She had hoped it would trigger a reaction out of him, but all it did was say that he was aware of it, and: "I hope you will find them a much better company than me, my lady." He answered with perfect politeness, not in the slightest seemingly unfazed with her cruel words, and it surprised her, but she dismissed it soon as simple submission of a broken boy.

But it would not be until a bit later on, when she learned, how wrong she was, to think so lowly of him…

15 years ago.

Arianne was never one to follow rules, much preferring to break them, either out of boredom or just to spite someone who had caught her ire, that at times being her father. That how it was Sunspear and same was true in the Red Keep, when she sneaked away from her chambers and past guards to wander and explore the Red Keep on her own. She was bored out of her mind, and she has had enough of the company of Rhaenys, her aunt and uncle and others for now, so she just wanted some time for herself and without anyone to bore her. Unfortunately for the young heiress of House Martell, wandering Maegor's Holdfast's corridors at this dark hour and in this particular part was a bad idea, especially today, when she ran into someone she much rather would prefer to avoid.

"Well, well, look who we have here? A Dornish little whore, wandering all around as if she is the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms." Princess Arianne met eyes to eyes with the clearly irate Prince Viserys. "Have you forgotten your manner, wench?" Viserys' eye turned to anger, with Arianne getting scared at the sight of him.

"I am sorry, Your Grace, I just…" Arianne wanted to answer, but did not get a chance, as Viserys glowered over her, closing the distance.

"You just what, forget your manners and place, you Dornish wench?" Viserys said with great venom in his tone. "You dornishmen… Father always said that you always think yourself important because of some ancient history, when in reality, you are just empty stinking dark people, who barely deserve the honor of being married into our family. In fact, you don't even deserve it!" Viserys proclaimed loudly, with Arianne shaking in her place out of clear fear from facing an unstable Prince.

"W-with your permission, Your Grace, I w-would l-like to leave…" Arianne did not wait for his response and turned to walk away, before being grabbed and pushed against the wall.

"And who said you could leave, whore?" Viserys asked of her angrily. "You dare leave without my say so?! You arrogant stupid Dornish bitch, my father always said that the only way to make you behave is to beat obedience into you. Let's see how well you will take it!" Viserys prepared to strike her, before something crashed into him and pushed him off of her.

"Let her go!" Suddenly, Arianne's eyes were upon Maegor, the boy whom she despised and disparaged upon, yet now saving her from the violent Prince. "Run! That way!" Maegor showed her with his hand, with Arianne picking herself up and running away as fast as she could.

Only after she was out of breath and a short way from that spot did she finally notice that she alone ran away from Prince Viserys, and that Maegor was nowhere to be seen. Though she was scared, something told Arianne that she needed to go back and check on him, and so she did, tracking back her movements getting back to the corridor she was… only to see that Maegor hadn't ran away. No, instead, Arianne saw, peeking from the corner, how the malicious and enraged Prince Viserys was brutally beating the poor boy with his hands and legs, and the boy did nothing to answer back. The sight of what was happening was horrifying and would haunt the future Princess of Dorne for years to come, but she did not turn away, even when Viserys smashed Maegor's head at the wall and kicked him in the groin.

She did not know how long this atrocity continued and how long she watched, but eventually Viserys grew tired of all this, and simply wiped his legs and arms off Maegor and left, leaving the beaten boy laying on the cold floor without motion. Once Viserys was out of sight, Arianne ran to him and the sight of his bruised and cut face, with swollen eye and many black spots almost made her want to vomit, but at least he was alive, as she heard a soft groan out of him, as he opened one of his eyes and tried to stand up, with much pain.

"W-why… Are you here?" He asked through a great deal of pain, with Arianne helping him onto his legs.

"I… I tried to find you, feared you got lost or…" Arianne said, before Maegor nearly fell on his knees, only to be caught by Arianne. "You need a Maester! You are bleeding and you can't even stand!"

"Nothing new… for me." Maegor said without even any emotion and through pain. "Just… get me to my room a-and go…" He told her, with Arianne shaking her head at that.

"No, I'm not leaving you like that! He almost killed you, how can you say it is nothing new for you?!" Arianne couldn't understand what he was saying.

"B-because… It is what… He does… When he is angry." Maegor said to her. "A-and Viserys… Is angry at m-many things. You angered him… And he would've beaten you like this…" Maegor told Arianne.

"B-but… But why didn't you run away?" Arianne asked of Maegor, shocked by his words.

"B-because… You did not d-deserve it." Maegor told her, shocking the Princess, as he struggled to look up in her eyes.

"I said bad things to you, called you names, and…" Arianne recalled, but Maegor simply interrupted her.

"Everyone… calls me names and says bad things. Father calls me Maegor the Cruel for killing my mother, s-so I deserve it all." Maegor told Arianne, leaving her speechless. "Even Viserys… He says… I deserve it."

"Viserys says that?" Arianne asked of him, with Maegor shaking his head.

"The… The King." Maegor answered, before adding. "But you don't d-deserve. B-better me, than you." Was all that the beaten boy could muster out of himself, before falling onto the floor, unconscious and leaving a stunned and shocked Arianne standing over him, her dress covered in his blood and her entire worldview in shambles.

Present.

Arianne only vaguely remembered what had happened immediately after, only that they were found by one of Kingsguards, probably Ser Barristan, and Maegor was rushed to the Maester, while she was escorted back to her chambers. Back in chambers, her uncle Oberyn gave her one of his earfuls to her, not for wandering off, but for running into Maegor and talking to him like she did, and when she tried to tell him that he actually saved her and protected her from Viserys, Oberyn looked at her as if she were a half-wit and called her that. Neither he, nor Doran later on cared for the fact that Arianne was nearly beaten to half death by Prince Viserys, and only her mother and aunt cared, though Elia said nothing good or bad about Maegor.

Lady Mellario, on the other hand, was extremely grateful to Maegor for what he had done and went to Maester's Tower with Arianne to express her gratitude, with Arianne too doing the same. Fortunately, Maegor was already awake and getting the needed help, though seriously weakened from the beating, forcing him to stay at Maester's Tower for a fortnight. And during this time, Arianne would visit him at least twice a day, sometimes even more so, to keep him company and to escape away from ravings of her cousins and uncle. Though she loved them dearly, after what Maegor had done for her, she could never hold any animosity towards him saw him for what he truly was: a poor boy, hated by nearly everyone in the world simply because the King needed someone to shoulder the blame for the loss of his beloved woman. For Rhaegar and Martells, hating Maegor was one thing that united them, but Arianne was different from them and instead of hating him, she grew close to the boy, becoming his first ever true friend.

It was not easy for Arianne to get Maegor to see her not as another one who simply mocked or hated him, but as someone who wanted to be his friend, but once she did accomplish it, she learned that though he was a broken lonely boy, there was more to him than met the eye. For instance, Maegor was inquisitive and intelligent, far more so than Rhaenys, Aegon and Visenya put together, for he loved books and read a great deal of them, and talked much of them. Before meeting Maegor, Arianne never found any joy or interest in reading books, seeing them to only be used by Maesters and old men, but after she saw with what passion he told her about Queen Nymeria's stories and chronicles of her rule, she found herself intrigued and soon picked up the books for herself too.

A week later, the two of them would regularly chat about their favorite books and stories, and even, 15 years later, Arianne never stopped enjoying a good book, at times even more so than being with a man. Thanks to it, Arianne had managed to amass quite a collection of all sorts of books in Sunspear, a great deal of which she read twice or thrice, if not four times, though this has garnered her teases and jokes from her Sand Snake cousins, except for Sarella, who too enjoyed a good book and could hold a conversation about one.

Books were not the only thing that Arianne and Maegor discussed and talked about, even after he was back in his quarters, and though almost none of her family liked the fact that she and Maegor had grown closer than she was to Rhaenys and Aegon, Arianne personally never regretted it. If anything, this friendship pushed her to be a better person than a rash and hubris filled girl, and instead molded her into a patient, inquisitive and an intelligent woman, who was more than met the eye. While it was true that she enjoyed the pleasures of flesh, she did not let them dictate her desires, and while she did take a few lovers in her time, none of them was worth anything to her, for Arianne valued more than just good looks in a man, and wished for him to also possess intelligence and wit.

When Arianne eventually returned home, she was not well received by her father, who chastised her much like her uncle did for her friendship with Maegor, but even more so for enraging Prince Viserys, something that she didn't think too much off at the moment. And despite all this, she and Maegor maintained a correspondence, regularly sending each other letters, but when another letter came from King's Landing, and it was one informing of Maegor's crime committed and eventual death, Arianne cried openly about it. She did so in front of her Sand Snakes cousins, and they would mock and tease her about it for a month, while Oberyn and Doran celebrated the death of what they perceived to be their greatest enemy.

This, along with other things that became clear and known to Arianne, had forever shattered and ruined her relations with father, and her father had clearly long since stopped seeing her as his heir, favoring Quentyn and Trystane over her. He showed it in the fullest when he left the Sunspear for Water Gardens, and instead of letting her rule, Doran publically announced Oberyn to be the one to carry out the governing, while Arianne was given rule over "feasts and frolics," a mockery of her abilities and intelligence. It was little wonder that Arianne often departed Sunspear for other castles in Dorne, travelling all over it and beyond, often finding herself in King's Landing, though she never truly had any good relations with Rhaenys or Aegon, she just wanted to be away from the under the thumb of her father and uncle, like this time.

Only this time was completely different, for Maegor has returned, and he was back not as a broken and beaten down boy, but more, infinitely more and the moment Arianne laid her eyes on him… She knew that she wanted him. Handsome men were always one of Arianne's weaknesses, but Maegor… He was worlds apart from even the most dashing and fairest of men and women she had ever been. Tall and mighty in stature, with a full beard and long black hair, groomed and well-kept, with eyes that reflected regality and power, elegant and composed in his dress and act, Maegor, or rather Galahad now, appeared like a god among men, and it sparked something inside her that she never knew she had: a desire to be conquered by him.

This was something absolutely new to her, something that she could never have guessed she could possess, her, a Princess of Dorne and descendant of Queen Nymeria, but one look at him and from him, and she felt herself like one of those silly foolish maidens, in love with a fantasy of knights in shining armor, slaying terrible monsters. Only with Galahad, this was one fairy tale that Arianne was ready to believe in, and to say she was eager to meet with him again would be an understatement. She yearned to meet him in private, to talk for hours and more, to learn of his life, his adventures and every title he had earned, and even about his wife and children. Though she herself desired and wanted Galahad, Arianne could not deny the fact that he his wife was clearly at least his equal in intelligence and beauty, and she couldn't deny the little fact, that Arianne was not interest in her same way as she was in Galahad.

Letting out a sigh and diving out of her thoughts and memories, Arianne found that her cousins, uncle and now even Rhaenys were still going on and on about Galahad and his family. This has grown quite tiresome, and Arianne decided to finally speak up.

"I am sorry, but could you speak any louder than that? I am uncertain if they haven't heard you and your incessant complaints in the North and the Wall." Arianne sarcastically spoke up, finally silencing the room and getting the attention of everyone her. "That's better, now stop behaving like little children or none of you will be getting any sweets for the week." Arianne chided them in a mocking manner, so as to drive home the point, how childish they looked.

"Is this some kind of a joke for you?" Oberyn asked of her in an almost hissing manner. "Do you even realize what, my dear niece, is happening right now and how it affects us?"

"I realize that right at this moment you are jumping to conclusions and plotting plans and schemes for things, you do not even know if they will come to pass." Arianne told Oberyn, as she let out a sigh and reclined back in her seat, while Obara scowled at her. "For all we really know, at this moment, Maegor, or Galahad, has absolutely no reason to be our enemy that you are making him to be. In fact, if you want to, you actually stand a very good chance of making a friend out of him."

"Pft, I would've been surprised if you had said otherwise. You always had a soft spot for that half-bred bastard." Obara said almost spitting it out. "You were always closer to him than to your true-blooded siblings."

"And that is coming from another half-bred bastard…" Arianne talked back, reminding Obara about her origin, and making her nearly shake in place. "Do take care to choose what comes out of your mouth, Obara, or else you'll end up looking more like an angry little boy than a fierce Dornish she-warrior."

"Why don't you rise up and come here, and I'll show how fierce I am, you bookworm?!" Obara practically shouted her, with Nymeria putting herself before Obara and Arianne.

"Obara, please calm yourself. The last we need is for Tyrells and Maegor to learn that we now fight amongst each other." This seemed to work and Obara back down, while Nymeria turned to Arianne. "And as for you, dear cousin, maybe you should stop filling your head with fantasies and dreams about you precious little friend. Do not think we did not notice how you were looking at him throughout the entire time." Nymeria's hint didn't go unnoticed by Arianne, but she did not mind it.

"So, you too looked much like me, when you were through scowling and wincing." Arianne reminded Nymeria, who sported a small blush at that. "And don't deny it: there was quite a great deal to look at and want. His wife too is quite a treat for the eyes, even with all the sweet bits hidden beneath that dress of hers."

"Let us dispense with your wet fantasies, cousin, and focus on the topic at hand. Why is it that you think that Maegor, a brother towards which I never held even a sliver of kindness, would not wish to be our enemy, and may even become my friend?" Rhaenys asked of Arianne. "Do you plan to seduce him onto my side?" At that one Arianne simply chuckled.

"My dear cousin, when I do find my way into his arms, I shan't do so only to drive him into your camp and risk you sinking your claws into him. On that, I fear, I am far too selfish to acquiesce." Arianne noted with a smile. "But back to what I said earlier. Have any of you listened to what he said and proclaimed today at the Great Hall, and remember what had happened? It is clear as the sun in the desert that Galahad has little interest in the game that we are playing here, and if anything, it annoys him to be a part of it, especially from the start and having been dragged into against his will by the Tyrells." Arianne stated to them, recalling all he said to Rhaegar, and having analyzed all that he said.

"A mummer's play, nothing more. You imagine things that are not there, Arianne, letting what between your legs think instead of that learned head of yours." Tyene said, with other convinced at that, with Arianne looking a bit annoyed that they do not believe her.

"If you think so, then answer me this: why did he wait 14 years to come back home?" Arianne asked of them. "Maybe if he did not know where Westeros was, but we knew of Tamriel since days of Jaehaerys the I, then why not come back five, or four years ago, when he was of age, or even earlier? Why take a wife, settle down and having children with her, when it would not yield a single thing to him if he coveted the throne? Why come only with 300 warriors and not an army if he wished to take the throne? And why did he linger for so long on Dragonstone, if he, like you are so convinced, coveted the throne?" Arianne asked of them.

"And what answer can you give to us, our oh so wise Princess?" Obara asked Arianne in a mocking manner, with the latter rolling her eyes at that.

"Haven't I already given it earlier?" Arianne asked back, not waiting for the answer and deciding to continue. "And as for why he would be more inclined to be our friend than Tyrells' and Aegon's, I think it is clear to everyone, who is responsible for the little surprise that awaited Maegor on his arrival."

"A shame that the Sparrows didn't tear him apart. For once, those flowers would've done us a favor by ridding us of that bastard." Oberyn said with venom.

"I am more curious as to how and why did he manage to convince those zealots to go in exchange for a Trial of Seven." Rhaenys noted. "And why did he tell father to not interfere in this? What would he gain by participating in it?"

"Perhaps because even Galahad understands that your father does not have the authority and power over those fanatics, and as for what he could pursue with that Trial, I too ask myself that." Arianne noted. "All I can think of is that this is how he wishes to lure out his enemies from the shadows and expose them to him. Quite a clever way to do so." Arianne admitted.

"A reckless move on his part, and foolish, if he thinks that we will simply let this opportunity to go without exploiting it." Oberyn said with determination, with Obara smiling to it, with Arianne looking at him with a concerned eye.

"Please tell me that you do not mean to take part in this nonsense." Arianne asked of Oberyn, but a mere look from him and Obara told her that they've already made up their mind. "Did you two not hear what I have just said? Why? Why would you even take part in it? Is his existence that much of an insult to you, or are you two just too starved for blood to think straight?!" Arianne asked of them with an incredulous look.

"That bastard dares to insult us at every turn. Have you seen his crest and how he now dares to call himself? Sundrake… He is openly mocking us, and you are defending him, bookworm." Obara told her with spite. "He shall learn what it means to insult the Martells."

"As far as I know, he has not insulted us in a single way, and I see no reason to take part in this affair." Arianne told them firmly, before turning to Rhaenys. "Tell me, Rhaenys, do you think Galahad will take it lightly, seeing your uncle and cousin fighting against him in that Trial? No, because this is his play to lure out his enemies, and he is confident he can win. He specifically requested the best of the champions."

"An act of man's hubris and pride, one that we shall exploit to the fullest." Nymeria simply stated, with Arianne not agreeing with it.

"Somehow I doubt that it is as simple as that. You all saw him, and when he looked back at you, you all flinched, even you uncle." Arianne reminded them. "Galahad does not look like someone you can just discount as either foolish or prideful. There is… power within him, something that makes me shiver."

"More like makes you moist in your hole." Tyene noted, with Arianne rising up from her seat. "What, wish to deny it, or are you going to run into his arms and tell all about our plans?" Instead of answering her, Arianne turned to her uncle and eldest cousin.

"Uncle, Obara, please do not enlist yourselves into this damn Trial. Let the Tyrells put themselves into the spotlight and expose themselves for all to see. You want to make us another enemy just because of his name and crest? Do you even see hear yourself?" Arianne told them. "Stand down. This is not a time for your hollow vengeance and blind hatred to cloud your mind."

"I have noticed that you call this bastard Galahad, instead of Maegor." Oberyn noted with a judging eye.

"He said it himself, what his name is." Arianne reminded him.

"Whatever his name is, he and his existence are an offence upon House Martell, upon Elia and her children, and it long past due time that he answers for it." Oberyn stated, with Arianne palming her face with her hand at the stupidity of her uncle.

"Rhaenys, do you approve of this? Or are you just going to stand here and let them do as they like?" Arianne asked of her, with Rhaenys seemingly conflicted about it all and refused to answer.

"You should check your priorities, dear cousin, because it sounds like you are not quite standing with us, your true family, and your true future Queen." Nymeria told Arianne.

"Careful with your words, Nym. The last thing we want is to give the King any reason to have our heads." Arianne told her coldly, before turning to Rhaenys. "Well, what is it that you want, Rhaenys?" She asked of her again.

"Maegor may not have done anything to me, but the mere fact that he came back, and that he has children is enough indication, that he is more viable for the throne than I am." Rhaenys simply stated, with Arianne shaking her at what she was hearing. "If we get rid of him, then his wife will take their children back home and not show their face again. So, I say we take this opportunity." Rhaenys finally decided, getting the smiles from her cousins and uncle, but Arianne simply had enough and moved out of the chambers.

"And where do you think are off to?" Tyene asked of Arianne. "Off to you service your new favorite bastard?" At that one, Arianne's patience has given way, and she turned back and answered.

"No, but his company has always been far more pleasurable than your loose crass tongue ever was, and he never even had to touch me." Arianne told Tyene, making her shut up at the implication, before Arianne smirked at her. "And in all honesty, even Daemon was better with his tongue then you ever were." And with this, she finally left the chambers, having had enough of the stupidity of her family, and deciding to do something before they all made a serious mistake, which took her to Queen Elia's chambers, where she met the Kingsguard assigned to her, Ser Daemon Sand.

"Ser Daemon, is the Queen in her solar?" Arianne immediately asked of him.

"She is, milady. Shall I inform her of you?" Daemon Sand immediately answered, with Arianne nodding to him.

"Please do so, and tell her, that I come with the most urgent of matters, and every minute matters." Arianne told him, and so Daemon went into the solar of Queen Elia, before returning.

"The Queen will see you, milady." Daemon opened the door and let Arianne inside, where she found Queen Elia with her closest friend, Ashara Dayne.

"Dear Aunt, Lady Ashara, apologies for intruding, but I could not delay this matter." Arianne immediately spoke as she breathed in and out.

"Please breathe Arianne. You look as if you've ran from Sunspear bare footed." Ashara told her, with Arianne taking a moment to catch her breath.

"What could possibly have forced you to seek me out with such haste, Arianne?" Elia asked of her.

"A new bout of foolishness and madness of my cousins and uncle, and one that Rhaenys supports." Arianne announced to her, with Elia's eyes hardening at what she meant.

"Does this have anything to do with Maegor?" Arianne's nod was enough for Elia to know about the severity of this. "Tell me everything."

Meanwhile. An opposite wing of Maegor's Holdfast.

For what seemed like an eternity, Margeary had to listen to her father's puffed up ranting about how the Queen Mother utterly disrespected him and his mother, Queen Olenna, and at this point, it was becoming quite tiresome to hear him complain akin to a child. Even Jaehaerys and Alysanne were less fussy than her father, and that was saying something, but it was not her father or the Queen Mother that was occupying the thoughts of future Queen of Seven Kingdoms. What troubled her was the prodigal son of King Rhaegar and half-brother of her husband Aegon, Prince Maegor Targaryen, back in the capital, after 14 years of being presumed dead, and after spending more years in some far off land than home, he returns, along with a wife and four children in tow.

At first when she had heard from Aegon that Rhaegar growing obsessed with his long lost son, Margeary chalked it up to his conscience or some new fascination with mysticism, but did not give it any solid thought. Same was with her grandmother, but when Ser Arthur and Ser Jaime returned back and brought news of Maegor, along with his family, wealth, influence and power on the other continent… It was more than enough to spark concern in them and a flame of anger in Aegon, especially when he heard that his half-brother had four children already, while he had only two. To Aegon, who wished to have as many sons and daughters as he could, this was a blow to his personal pride, something that was easily wounded, as Margeary found out in years of their marriage. However, for Margeary and Olenna, this presented a clear and potent threat to the future dominance of the Tyrells, a threat to her children, one that was more potent than one that Martells and Rhaenys presented to them at the moment.

Ever since Margeary married Aegon and became his wife, she had steadily been shifting him away from the Martells to her and her House, depriving Doran Martell and his House of the future dominance over the Crown. When it became clear that Aegon was no longer his to rely upon, Doran shifted his focus upon Rhaenys, and so a new game began at the court, a game of supporters and loyalists, schemes and conspiracies, one that mirrored the one that was waged between Rhaenyra and Aegon II. All except direct confrontation was a resource in that game, from rumors to religion, like with Tyrells and Aegon openly supporting the Faith of the Seven, while Martells gave their support to the Red Priests of R'hllor, who denied Aegon as someone worthy of Crown. In years that had followed since the start of that confrontation, the Tyrells had gained a clear advantage and Margeary was keen to maintain it at all costs, and then King Rhaegar suddenly sent his Lord Commander, Kingslayer and a sworn shield of his daughter after his long dead son, and they succeeded.

The revelations that Ser Arthur Dayne brought to them were enough for Margeary and Olenna, who despite having clearly the greatest advantage over Rhaenys, were in a precariously vulnerable position, one that if were to be discovered, would mean the end of them. And this vulnerability fueled them into planning a scheme, which would see Maegor removed from the face of earth completely, along with his family, and end High Sparrow for good, a puppet who no longer remembered or cared about who elevated him. And to top it all off, had their plan been successful, they would have the Martells incriminated for this, with all the false evidences and charges prepared by Jon Connington. The plan was perfect and all the pieces were going to fall into place… Except it all went to seven hells.

Somehow, not only did Maegor outplay the High Sparrow, a thrice damned fanatic, and his army of zealots, but he has managed to do so in a way that saw not a single drop of blood spilled, and what's worse, The Sparrow lived and knew of their intent, making it clear through their liaison, that from now on, the Tyrells held no sway over him. As if that wasn't enough, now the entire court and the Realm knew about this, and it did not take much time for everyone to start pointing towards Tyrells, with Queen Mother all but saying it out loud. With such a debacle on their hands, they could forget about crushing the influence of Martells, and now would have to contend with accusations of treason, if they arose, or rather when. The only thing that seemed to possibly give them hope was the fact that Maegor did not escape his trap without consequence, and would have to face the Trial of Seven, and this presented a perfect opportunity to strike him down, one that they would exploit.

"…And after all this, she has the gall to suggest that you, mother, are responsible for it. What kind of a mad woman would even dare to incriminate you and…" Mace continued going on, until Olenna finally put an end to it.

"Enough of you and your blistering, Mace! Honestly, you sound like bloody mewling babe who had his favorite toy taken away." Olenna told him, before adding. "You still have to count coppers for that upcoming tourney? Well go and do so, and let us calm our nerves after you rattled them."

"B-but what about…" Mace tried to speak up, but did not get the opportunity.

"You are still here? Gods, have I truly raised a half-wit?" Olenna asked rhetorically, with Mace deciding not to press on and leave his mother, daughter and Loras alone. "He is becoming such an incredible pain the neck with years. The older he grows, the more wit he loses."

"Yet he does speak the truth, Grandmother." Loras decided to defend her. "The Queen Mother has no right to so openly make these claims. The King must force her to apologize and…"

"Oh do not start this, you too Loras. I have had enough of one dullard for the day. Dealing with another one will surely end me for good." Olenna stopped him. "If you think that Rhaella Targaryen will apologize for her words, even if ordered, then you clearly do not know her. With Aerys gone, she has found her own ferocity and power, and believe me, she is made of stronger stuff than even her grandfather was. And if there is one thing that she loves in this whole damned city, it is her grandson Maegor, and now his family added to it."

"I still can't believe that this abomination yet lives, and has multiplied with a foreign whore." Loras said with spite. "His mere existence is a stain upon the honor of his House, Margeary and us! How can the King even allow him to come here after what he did?"

"The King does what he wants, or have you not learned that?" Olenna reminded him of that. "He has pardoned him and there is nothing we can do about it."

"No, there is and you know it! The Trial of Seven, I will take part in it and cleanse him from the face of the…" Loras was about to declare, before Olenna stopped him.

"If you finish that sentence, then I'll have my men knock you out and lock you up in your chambers for until the Trial has passed." Olenna stated to him. "Now if you are done displaying your misplaced boyish pride, do leave and let Margeary and I worry about it all." Loras simply let out a loud sigh and left the chambers.

"For all of father's blister, he is not wrong in the fact that now everyone will point at us with this debacle." Margeary said with a sigh. "Without the chaos on the streets, we have no way to put it on the Martells, and even the King will have to take action against us."

"That red cock Connington will keep him off of us for long enough to clean up our mess, and even if he didn't, you are the Crown Prince's wife and mother of his children." Olenna reminded Margeary. "You and your children are the future of House Targaryen, and only you."

"Yet I am not the only one now. You saw them yourself, Grandmother: four children, strong and healthy, two sons and two daughters." Margeary reminded Olenna. "Stronger and healthier than Jaehaerys and Alysanne too…"

"Do not say it. All children go through diseases and you did, and your children are no different in any way." Olenna reminded her.

"Before all could say it, but now with those four here, everyone will see that our children are weaker than the bastard's own brood." Margeary said with venom. "And both he and his wife are not even in their prime. She looks more than capable enough give him more children."

"Yet she stopped at only four. Mayhaps she has reached her limit with those four and that is it." Olenna simply suggested, with Margeary shaking her head at that, as she recalled something.

"No, she did not… She is of the Pendragon family, and three years there was a traveler from Tamriel by the name of Tristan Capet with his wife, Lady Angelina Pendragon, who had seven children." Margeary reminded her. "He spoke at length about her family, and how Pendragon family was blessed with vitality and virility, and that her niece Morgana bore her husband another pair of twins. And how did Angelina look: golden head and green eyes, same as this Morgana."

"So what? It doesn't change the fact that there are just four of them." Olenna simply told her.

"No, but that doesn't change fact that she can easily birth as many as seven, while I have expired as a woman already." Margeary said bitterly, with Olenna turning to her. "Five children, only two I gave birth too, and the last one the gods took from me and rid me of any ability to bear any more."

"None know of it, dear, and none shall ever do, and those who did are dead." Olenna reminded her. "You have given the Crown Prince his son and daughter, and before Rhaenys and Maegor can even think about that Throne, they will have to go through them, and they will never succeed in anything."

"Or the King will do all the work for them." Margeary added. "He and Aegon have long since stopped seeing eye to eye, especially after Aegon openly disparaged about his father's obsession with sorcerers. He has made it clear more than a few times, that if he had Maegor, he would've had him assume Aegon's place, and now he has him."

"Aegon is loved by the people and nobles, supported by the Faith, and even Rhaegar knows it. And Maegor, what he has? A small retinue, dozens of titles that mean nothing here and no prospects of any meaningful marriage thanks to his wife and children." Olenna stated, with Margeary agreeing to it.

"But he must be dealt with, before Rhaegar has a chance to officially legitimize him and his brood." Margeary said.

"He will be, and he has given us the perfect opportunity and time to prepare for it." Olenna agreed. "There are more than enough able Knights and Lords who would gladly kill their own brother or father for enough gold or not to have their secrets made public, and I suspect that half-mad Viper and his viscous daughters will wish to deal with Maegor too, if only to wash away that stain on their non-existent honor."

"Unless Arianne manages to keep them out of it, and she is known to have been Maegor's only friend." Margeary reminded her grandmother.

"Hence why her impotent father no longer sees her as his heir, and why none of those bellicose fools will listen to her." Olenna assured her. "Do not worry my dear. Before the new moon, we will have grown stronger again, and Maegor will again be a dead memory." Olenna promised to her granddaughter.

Later, that evening.

As the king had promised, the Targaryen family, at least most of them and the Sundrakes have convened for the dinner, which looked more like a small feast than a simple dinner. Clearly, Rhaegar and Elia wished to make a positive impression upon Galahad and wished to smooth out the events of the day over a calm and nice dinner, accompanied with finest of wines and dishes. If that had made an impression upon Galahad and his family, they didn't exactly show it, as they arrived dressed for the occasion, but without excess like Margeary, her parents and brother, who all dressed as if they were royalty with the amount of gold and jewelry that was put on display by them. It was clear that they wished to make an impression of power and prestige, but all they achieved was make themselves look like pompous greedy family, with Margeary in particular dressed in such rich gown and with jewels, that it was almost outrageous, for she even the Queen was dressed in humbler attire.

By contrast, the garments wore by Galahad and his wife were perfect models of esthetical balance of elegance and conservative, nothing out of place or of excess. Morgana in particular was always of the opinion that one should not put on themselves more than needed, and that to achieve a positive impression, one must both dress and act in accordance of elegance.

And Morgana followed her philosophy her, with her gown being a fully closed one, hugging her body yet not revealing a single speck of it, hiding it underneath blue and white material, while the only pieces of jewelry on her were a silver pendant in form of a dragon on her neck, and a golden rand on her ring finger, identical to the one that was on her husband's finger. She had many more pieces of jewelry of all sizes and forms, but Morgana felt no need to show it off just out of pettiness, like Margeary, Rhaenys and Daenerys did, both of the latter two also have dressed in their entire splendor. Out of all the assembled women, only Rhaella was dressed with more conservatism than Morgana, and that was saying something, though she too did exude an air of regality and power.

The dinner was proceeding in relative peace and quiet, a welcomed change of pace and status from all the excitement of the earlier, and for now, the small talk was reduced to the minimum. While all of Sundrakes were present, not all of the Targaryens were, with Aegon's children clearly missing, something that didn't go unnoticed, yet was spoken off, until now.

"I must admit, Lady Morgana that your and my brother's children look like models of good behavior at the table." Rhaenys spoken up with grace, as she cut her meat. "You must be applying quite a severe disciplining upon them, to make them eat like true noble men and women."

"Not at all, Princess, I would never have enough heart to apply any severity upon them. I merely educated them on the benefits of acting like proper and polite men and women." Morgana replied. "I admit that discipline is needed, true, but an excess of is as damaging as is complete lack of one. One must raise their children in a balance of discipline and freedom, neither stifling the other out."

"A good principal to live by." Arianne Martell noted, as she nodded in respect to Morgana. "Do you mind if I borrow it, when I have my children?"

"By all means, Princess." Morgana nodded back with a smile.

"Yes, perhaps we all could use this principal. My good-sister Margeary surely would benefit from it, when it comes to Jaehaerys and Alysanne, though it is a shame that they are not with us today." Rhaenys noted with seeming innocence. "I am certain they and your children would've gotten along most famously, unless it was too strenuous, of course." Rhaenys' hint didn't go unnoticed, with Margeary deciding to answer.

"You will have to forgive them, Your Grace. Earlier events proved so exciting, that it tired them faster than anyone would've expected, so I allowed them to retire early after a light dinner." Margeary answered, with Rhaegar nodding in approval, while she turned to Morgana. "What about your children, milady? After such a long journey and all the events of today, perhaps they could be forgiven if allowed to be excused early." Margeary suggested, with Morgana merely raised her brow at that one.

"Perhaps you are correct, Lady Margeary, but let us hear it from them first." Morgana turned to her children. "My dears, how are you? Are you tired after all the excitement of today?"

"No, mother, I am well." Agravain immediately answered.

"So am I, mother." Gawain answered afterwards.

"It was a little crowded today, but I didn't get scared, because father wouldn't let anything happen to us." Faye answered, with Galahad nodding to her with a smile.

"Hm, I am well, though I saw Lady Margeary's kids earlier today, and they didn't look too good to me." Arturia replied. "Are all children here that pale and grey in hair?" She asked innocently, with Galahad deciding to answer, before anyone had something to say.

"Your cousins have inherited the traditional looks of Targaryen family, Arturia, of my former family, while you have the mix of me and your mother's blood in you. Those from ancient Valyria are usually fairer than most, in tone of skin and hair. As you can see, Aegon has inherited his looks from the King here, and his children took the looks of their father." Galahad replied, with Arturia thinking about it a little, before replying.

"Ah, I understand. They took more after their father instead of mother, right?" Arturia asked, with Galahad nodding to her. "But if the King is your father too, why you don't look like him, father?" Arturia asked of him, with King Rhaegar replying.

"Your father took greatly after his mother, Lyanna Stark. I am sure he has told you of her." King Rhaegar said with a smile, with Arturia and other children exchanging looks, before Agravain answered.

"No, Your Grace. Father always said that Grandmother Viviane was his mother too, though not one who bore him." The eldest son of Galahad replied, surprising Rhaegar and making him turn to Galahad.

"You never told them of Lyanna? Why? Do they not deserve to know of her?" Rhaegar asked of Galahad, who calmly replied.

"I never told them of her because I myself knew next to nothing about her, nothing that I could pass on to them. She may have given me life, but I never even met here when she was alive, nor was I raised by her, nor was I allowed calling her mother, as you may recall." Galahad answered with a bit of steel, reminding Rhaegar of that one, making her close his eyes in shame at that fact. "When I woke up in High Rock, it was Lady Viviane who nursed me back to health, and took me in without any reservations, like I was her own. I owe as much to her, if not more, as a son owes to his mother, and she is the only one I could ever call my mother." At that one, Visenya turned an angry eye to him.

"And so you replaced our mother with some foreign woman who showed you some kindness? Where is your loyalty to our blood, to our kin?" Visenya asked with a near snarl.

"Visenya, that is enough." Rhaegar turned to her, but Galahad replied to her earlier comment.

"My loyalty is to my blood, Visenya, the blood that runs in my children and to my wife who bore them." Galahad told her with steel. "And as for the loyalty to your blood and kin, it was made very clear to me, that I would have neither love nor loyalty from them, so I have none for them."

"And you are undeserving of them, for you have killed my mother and robbed our father of her." Visenya reminded to him with venom.

"Visenya!" Rhaegar shouted at her, appalled by her attitude. "We have talked about this, daughter, and I will not repeat myself. If you cannot act like a properly, then you may leave." And without saying a single word, Visenya rose up and left the table, with Rhaegar shaking his head at her behavior.

"Please forgive Visenya. She has always been quite… fierce in her beliefs." Elia told Morgana and Galahad.

"More like an untamed wild animal, though I heard her mother was much the same, until father tamed her." Aegon commented with a small smirk.

"Let us stop this discussion right here and now and turn to something far less conflict inspiring." Rhaella said finally.

"Most agreed, Your Grace." Olenna supported, as she turned to Galahad. "So, tell us, Prince, how do you live in that far off Tamriel of yours? Do you live off of tourneys like a hedge knight, or on an allowance from your wife?" Galahad simply raised his eyebrow at that one.

"Have I given such an impression that I am in need of money, Lady Olenna?" Galahad simply asked of her.

"Well, you are only Prince in Westeros, and out there you are barely more than nothing, so I assumed you were not quite well off personally in terms of money." Olenna noted, as she turned to Morgana. "I imagine that all this show cost with ships and men cost quite a fortune to your parents, my dear. Must be tiring funding an exiled prince and all that." Morgana simply looked at her with the same raised brow as her husband.

"I find myself struggling to understand, what could possibly have given you such an impression, Lady Olenna, for my family does not pay for any of our expenses, nor do they need to. The Honor Guard that arrived with us are all loyal to my husband, and the ships are owned and employed by him, as are captains, crews, servants and much more." Morgana replied calmly. "We experience neither need nor want for coin, and we do not sleep under hedges, as you somehow have assumed. We own plenty of property all around Tamriel, from cottages to mansions and even two castles, and our coffers are filled to the brim with gold."

"Truly? And do tell, how much does your husband own in coin alone?" Olenna challenged, with Galahad answering.

"Last I took stock, before leaving for Westeros, I had about one million two hundred sixty three thousand gold coins, which would be an equivalent of three million seven hundred eighty nine thousand gold dragons, if one were to convert it all." Galahad replied, shocking the present, while he pondered for a second. "If nothing out of ordinary had occurred, then by my estimates, then an additional seventy five thousand gold coins can be added to that amount, give or take ten thousand, if accounting for out of ordinary circumstances."

"By the Seven, h-how have you come to possess such a great wealth? I-it almost equals half of the Royal Treasury." Mace Tyrell couldn't contain himself from asking, with Galahad shrugging it off.

"Well, a part it came as are spoils of war, rewards from people I helped, payment for services or treasures I found throughout Tamriel, but it was after the Stormcloak Rebellion and Second Great War that I truly began to earn coin." Galahad said, as he sipped a bit of wine. "I took my money and invested it into various enterprises throughout the land, either buying them out entirely, or becoming the holder of most of the rights to them. Mines, quarries, lumber camps, farms, shops, smithies, traders, ships- essentially everything that I could acquire and invest in and which would yield profit in the future. War is a terrible thing, especially for the economics, so after it, there were great many of the despoiled enterprises, which I became the owner or senior partner of."

"So you traded your sword for peddling cheese and apples?" Aegon asked with a joking manner, with Rhaegar giving him a cross look. "Although perhaps that is for the best, Maegor, since you were never trained by the likes of Ser Arthur Dayne or Ser Gerold Hightower, like I was."

"Still, for even an exiled Prince, such things are beneath you, to partake in them like some Pentoshi magister." Loras Tyrell spoke with arrogance. "A true knight earns everything through his valor and courage, in tourneys and battles." He stated in prideful manner.

"And in how many of those have you fought, Ser Loras?" Morgana asked of him.

"I beg your pardon?" Loras was caught off guard at that one.

"Tourneys and battles, how many have fought in? How much wealth have they provided to you, enough to pay for your golden laced doublet with flowery embroidery?" Morgana asked of him, with Loras struggling to answer to that. "Or it is your family which pays for all your excesses, from what I can see, and you get to enjoy trappings of a warrior and knight, but not its duties and responsibilities."

"And is your husband even a knight? Do your people even know the meaning of the word?" Loras asked, red with anger. "He does have plenty of titles, but which of them mean even something meaningful?"

"We do know what a knight is, and so does my husband, for he had to work quite a great deal to earn this title." Morgana answered, before she took a sip from her cup. "I assume you have been informed that my husband is the Grand Master of the Brotherhood of Purifiers, and one of leaders of the Order of Dragons, correct?"

"Yes, Ser Arthur Dayne has informed us of that fact." Elia Martell spoke. "Though he had provided us with little detail beside some general description, and even that was rather sparse."

"Then I shall elaborate on certain details of both. The Order of Dragon is a knightly order founded two hundred years ago, with purpose of protecting the races of Men, Mer and Beasts from all threats, and to operate in many lands, it was split into 8 Brotherhoods, each commanded by a Grand Master." Morgana began explaining. "The recruitment into the Order and one of the Brotherhoods is an exceptionally severe, and only the strongest in mind, spirit and body can be considered to be made into an Initiate, and from hundreds of those, often less than half become Neophytes, yet none of them are yet either full members or knights. Initiate is merely a recruit that is trained in the ways of the Order and Brotherhood, a page if you will, while Neophyte is the equivalent of a squire, being apprenticed by a member of the Brotherhood."

"And I assume Ser Galahad had to go through the same process?" Arianne asked, with Morgana nodding to her, before she turned to the man himself. "Was the training truly as brutal as your Lady implies?"

"Quite so, and my lady needs not imagine things, for she has seen them firsthand. Her father, Uther Pendragon, is the Grand Master of the Brotherhood of Justicars, and both the selection into Initiates and preparation to become a Neophyte are each a challenge that weeds out the weak. There is no way to gain either rank or knighthood in the order other than this one, and even if you were born into it." Galahad stated. "When Uther told me of this, I was only 7, but I already knew that I wished to be part of it, so he agreed to give me a chance to become a part of the Order, but not his Brotherhood. Instead, he sent me to Alaric Tor, Grand Master of the Purifiers and my predecessor, and it would be there that I would first become an Initiate and then a Neophyte under the Grand Master himself."

"Apparently the conditions in Tamriel for becoming a knight are laxer than in here, if they allow such men like you in it." Oberyn Martell commented, clearly having already had more than a few cups of wine. "Were you in Dorne, you would never have been given your spurs."

"And were you in Tamriel, not a single Brotherhood would ever accept you in, Prince Oberyn." Galahad commented, with Oberyn narrowing his eyes at Galahad in a threatening manner. "I do not know what conditions one must complete to become a knight here, but in Purifiers and under Lord Tor, I had to put my mind and body fully to the task to earning my right of becoming a Knight. I apprenticed for Lord Tor for about three years, until he made me swear my vows and granted me the rank of Knight."

"And what deed did you perform to earn that right? Kill some bloated old lord in a joust?" Oberyn challenged him again.

"No. I killed two Minotaurs with my sword, saving a village in Cyrodiil." Galahad revealed. "Do you know what those are, Prince Oberyn?"

"Of course, I've heard of those children's tales…" Oberyn was prepared to dismiss it, but Galahad didn't let him finish.

"In here and Essos, they are myth and legend, but in Tamriel they are real, and rank among the strongest of creatures one can hope they do not encounter. Standing well over 8 feet, they are massive and hulking, with hides that can shrug off arbalest bolts, and horns that can pierce plate steel, while their arms and hooves crush a man's skull with ease. The only weapon that they can effectively use is war hammer, the kind that requires a man like, say, you both hands to even lift, but they swing them as easily as I can swing a dagger." Galahad continued. "Now imagine that this creature also has a mind that can plan and think what to do, almost like you and I, and what do you get? You get one of nature's most dreadful warriors, one that even Paladins of Daggerfall do not go after very often. And I killed two of them, singlehandedly with a longsword, when I was 12. That is the kind of deed you need to earn your right to call yourself a Knight and a Purifier in Tamriel." Galahad ended his tale, leaving everyone at the table stunned, for they could feel the truth in his words, and that to question him about it would be folly.

"Well, fighting beasts, even as deadly as those is one thing, but what about the men?" Oberyn asked challengingly. "You spoke of two wars, but did you really fight in them, boy, or are you too pure to sully your cloak and blade with the blood of men?" Oberyn's tone was clearly one of mockery, with Galahad noticing him.

"I have fought in them, Prince Oberyn, and many men and women fell at my hand, more so than I suspect even you have killed in all your travels and fights." Galahad stated, with Oberyn laughing at that.

"Oh really? Well, tell me, boy, did you kill anyone of worthwhile out there, someone whom even I would know as a worthy enough warrior, hm?" Oberyn asked of him, with Galahad not answering, and instead rising up from his seat suddenly.

"Excuse me for a few minutes." He simply said and left the room, surprising all.

"Did I actually scare him off?" Oberyn asked jokingly, with Elia turning a scornful eye at him.

"No, Prince Oberyn. He simply went to get the answer to your question." Morgana answered calmly.

"And what form of answer is he going to get me? A corpse of some hedge knight?" He laughed again, until Galahad returned. "Ah, there you are, Prince, we were about to…" And at that moment, Galahad casually placed with one hand a massive war hammer, made of black castle steel and decorated with the sigil of the golden stag, silencing all of Westerosi at the sight of the dreaded thing.

"Does that satisfy you, Prince Oberyn?" Galahad asked of him, while the King and many other Westerosi rose up from the seats, at the sight of the weapon. "I assume you know to whom this hammer belonged to in the past."

"This… This is Robert Baratheon's war hammer." Rhaegar said with a shocked voice, as he looked at the thing.

"Are you certain, father? It has been over twenty years since Baratheon disappeared and…" Rhaenys tried to reason, but Rhaegar shook his head at her words.

"I would never forget this monstrous weapon, for it still haunts my dreams sometimes. This is Robert's hammer, the same one he used against me at the Battle of Trident, and one that nearly shattered my chest when he struck at me." Rhaegar breathed out, as he remembered the event, before turning to Galahad. "Maegor, m-my son… Where and how did you get it?"

"I picked it up after Robert dropped into the soil, after my sword severed his head from its body." Galahad answered, again surprising everyone. "I see Ser Arthur failed to mention that little fact. Oh well, not like it was the most impressive of my victories, but most definitely among my most satisfying ones. I have been hunting that treacherous oathbreaker for a long time." Galahad added.

"So you did not kill him because he found out you were His Grace's son?" Arianne asked of Galahad, who shook his head. "Then what kind of oath did Robert break to earn your ire?"

"He betrayed the Empire after pledging to fight for in the civil war, but even before that, Grand Master Tor enlisted the help of Baratheon and his men, invoking the oath that he made to Grand Master years prior. Lord Tor wished to cleanse the western Skyrim and eastern High Rock of the Reachmen, barbaric demon worshipping people, who had plagued the two lands for centuries. Lord Tor gathered over two thirds of the Purifiers and joined forces with Baratheon, and all seemed well at the start." Galahad regaled his tale, until he took a sigh and continued. "But after three days of march, we were led into an ambush in a narrow river valley, with Reachmen on the rocks and heights, and Baratheon's men in front and in our rear. Robert had struck a deal with the Reachmen and sold us out, and then began the battle, with his men attacking us right there and then, while Reachmen rained down arrows on us. It was not even a battle… It was a slaughter." Galahad's eyes closed for a second, as the picture of that nightmare came back for a moment.

"How did it go?" Elia asked in a quiet tone, with Galahad continuing.

"As badly as one could expect: out of twenty five hundred forty one of Purifiers, survived only four hundred and seven, only thanks to Grand Master's sacrifice. He charged the backlines of Baratheon's forces and carved a bloody path for what few survivors that could get out, while he held the rearguard with those that stayed behind. I was among those men, fighting alongside him and giving a chance to my brothers and sisters to safe themselves, but then Robert attacked us in person, going after the Grand Master personally." Galahad continued his tale. "We were battered, bloodied and tired, but we made him pay for every step taken, for every fallen of ours, we took a toll of ten, and Grand Master himself ended over thirty men, before Baratheon came upon him, and while he distracted, slammed his hammer into his head, right before my eyes. There was no challenge issued, no warning or honorable duel, just that, a disgusting blow in the head while the man who made me into a Purifier and the Champion of the Brotherhood a mere month prior stood his ground and fought against four men."

"So he fell, and you ran away, like a craven?" Aegon asked with a smirk, until he flinched at the hard look of Galahad.

"I fled from there, the last of the Purifiers to leave that place, yes. But before I did, I carved my way through Baratheon's sworn shields, and reclaimed the reclaimed the body of my Grand Master, along with his arms, before that boar could stain them with his hands." Galahad told Aegon. "Baratheon seemed impressed by my bravery, or madness, and instead of killing me, offered to join him, stating that under him, I would have castles, women and gold aplenty. I spat in his face and promised to him, that the last face he will ever see will be my own, and that is one oath I kept. After the battle of Whiterun two years later, when I killed Baratheon, I kept this thing, though never again put it to use since then. Its balance is askew and it doesn't handle well in real fight, and you need too much strength to use it effectively, so I just put it on a shelve and forgot about it, until your Kingsguards appeared." Galahad stated.

"And you decided to bring it with you, as a proof of your deed." Rhaegar concluded, as he looked with pride at his son. "Thank you, Maegor, no words can describe, how proud I am of you at this moment. You have finished what I could not, and ended the single greatest threat to our House since Daemon Blackfyre." Rhaegar stated with pride, with Galahad simply shrugging it off.

"I did it because he killed my mentor, friend and Grand Master of my Order, not to gain your favor. You can keep this thing if you want it. I've got far better arms than this one, including a better war hammer." Galahad said, as he looked at his wife and children, before deciding that they have had their fill. "If you will excuse us, King, we shall retire for the night. Give my thanks to the cooks for the food." And so, after his wife and children gave their respects, Galahad and his family departed from the table towards their chambers, leaving a stunned family behind, and much more questions and thoughts among all of them.

Later. King Rhaegar's solar.

Rhaegar stood with his hands behind his back, staring into the fireplace, while the hammer of now late Robert Baratheon laid on his table, a clear evidence that the Demon of the Trident was finally gone and would not come back to try and claim his false vengeance for Lyanna and lay his hands upon the Iron Throne. For years this man, despite his disappearance, had hung over Rhaegar and his rule akin to a sword strapped to a ceiling, waiting to drop upon Rhaegar at the moment of his weakness, but now he could breathe easy, knowing that the sword would no longer bother him. The thought brought such relief and joy to Rhaegar, that he had not felt in the longest time, even when Aegon and Margeary had presented him with his first grandchild, Jaehaerys.

Yet now Maegor presented him with proof, that the Rebellion was truly over, and that it was his own sword that ended it for good, and this was further proof to Rhaegar, that now he was on the correct path, and that his second son was the key to fulfilling the prophecy. The signs and messages from the Lord of Light and his priests were as clear as they could be, and now they fully read and understood them: Maegor was The Prince that was Promised, not Aegon. Aegon's destiny was not to be the Promised Prince, but to be the King that would lead their family and Seven Kingdoms into a new golden era, of that Rhaegar was most certain. He could not be the Prince as he believed earlier, for Aegon was his heir and the future King, meaning that there had to be another one, another son…

And so Maegor was remembered, and R'hllor revealed that he indeed lived and where he was, and so Rhaegar dispatched those he trusted to get him, expecting someone who would immediately follow his desires and designs, but not whom he had gotten instead. However, the reluctance and disbelief of Maegor and his distaste for his destiny were not enough to dissuade Rhaegar from his course, from making Maegor whom he must be. And now he was about to make his first attempt at this, as he expected him to come to him, after he was summoned in the dead of the night.

"Doubts cloud your mind, my King." The Red Priestess Melisandre spoke in her clear accented tone. "Cast them aside, for the Lord of Light has foreseen everything, and the Prince shall take up his mantle. His false defiance will retreat in the light of truth."

"You may say so, but you were not here when he arrived, when he spoke before all and did not see how he made all listen to him." Rhaegar told her, without looking at her. "He commanded more respect and authority while silent than I ever did when leading an army in the van."

"Such is the power of the Prince, granted by our Lord to him so he may fulfill his destiny." Melisandre simple stated as if it were most assured thing.

"And what if he denies it, and leaves without fulfilling it?" Rhaegar asked of her.

"He shan't, for the Lord would never allow him to do so." Melisandre assured Rhaegar. "Allow me to enlighten the Prince of his divine role and destiny, and all shall become as it should be, my King."

"That is why I have summoned you here before me." Rhaegar reminded to her, before he heard the knock on the door of his solar, and then it opening, with a single man stepping inside.

"I believe I was clear on the fact that I wished to rest for tonight, after all of the events." Galahad stated to Rhaegar, as he stepped inside and closed the door behind him, before he looked at the priestess. "I assume you are the person responsible for giving my father the information about my existence and whereabouts? Lady Melisandre, I presume?"

"It is my pleasure and honor to meet the Champion of our Lord, my Prince." Melisandre bowed her head deeply before him, with Galahad merely letting out a sigh.

"Allow me to clarify something: I am not your Lord's servant like you, only its ally, at most. Do not assume just because I happen to be holder of her favor I am her slave." Galahad stated to her, with Melisandre simply nodding to him. "Now, what was so important that you needed discussing, Rhaegar?" At these words, Rhaegar finally turned to face Galahad.

"I've summoned you, my son, to tell you the truth." Rhaegar told him. "The truth about you, Lyanna, your destiny and purpose for why you were born."

Hold on, it's not even 10th of July and there is a third Chapter already? Well, you could say I felt inspired by your massive support and I decided not to wait too long with giving you this. Hope you will enjoy this chapter. As you may have noticed, I decided to make Arianne a bit of a different person than she was in the books, and from most of the fics, where she acts more or less like another Sand Snake (ugh… Season Five forever made me hate them) with a disastrous idea in her mind. Here, she is far more intelligent and deep thinking, able to analyze things and actually can make a competent player in the game. Oh, and don't worry, I won't be denying you what you want, and the Trial of Seven will be coming soon, right after the next chapter.

Give this chapter a review, leave a comment or a suggestion about the future events and what has already happened, for your contributions help make it into a better story.

Next time: The Prince that denies the King; She-Wolf howls, Dragon roars; False Dragon raves, True Dragon commands.

Until next time!